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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts
Neighborhoods: Belmont, Southeast PortlandMon-Thu. 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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rimsky is one of those places that could be over-the-top fantastic if it weren't for the bizarre service. everything about this place is remarkable, and while i admit i only encounter ridiculously rude service about 1/4 of the time, it's enough to prevent me from frequently dropping my money here. the staff is hilarious and entertaining at times, and downright smug at others. if you don't mind being talked to like a baby or told to fuck off by wait staff (or if you've had the pot de creme and know it's worth tuning the self-important hepsters out), this is the place to be.
the decor is incredible. situated next door to a plaid pantry, you would never know that inside this beautiful old victorian sits a fantastic dessert bar that's open at night, and features homemade masterpieces. they don't take cards (but it's always fun to hear people ask, because the wait staff is often super pretentious about this, portland-style), so the plaid is conveniently located.
i normally name my favorite menu items in reviews, but this is the only place where i can't narrow it down. whether you're in the mood for chocolate, fruit, mint, caramel, EVERYTHING is delicious. especially the bizarre combinations (raspberry and mint chocolate chip). i can only recommend the pot de creme and anything on the specials menu, because those change and almost always sell out.
when you go, try to find the "wacky" tables (one has a top that turns ever-so-slowly, another unnoticeably creeps farther from and then closer to the floor). the bathroom is worth checking out even if you don't get dessert. the tables are create-your-own, live classical music some nights, open late...
rimsky is a true staple of portland culture, and is definitely worth experiencing, even if it's not "your thing."
What a delight! To start my review, I'll go with food and drink. I had the lavender infused honey lemonade. WOW. Loved it. It was crisp and refreshing and I really enjoyed the faint touch of lavender. For dessert, I had a small sliver of the cheesecake and a small sliver of the lemon icebox pie. Both yummy and very satisfying. I couldn't decide between the two - so the waiter brought both -what a surprise! Everyone we were with commented on enjoying their various drinks and eats - so all in all - Rimsky's was a success in regards to food.
The decor, as everyone else has mentioned, is unique and fun. Exactly why I decided to come here in the first place.
The service was good - but naturally a bit slow. Only one guy working for a while! He made up for that with being funny and entertaining.
I would definitely return/frequent this fun spot.
The two elementary aged kids sitting at the table next to me were engaged in that classic debate:
Kid 1: "... and then I was like, 'No! 'Cause it's Opposite Day!"
Kid 2: "There's no such thing as Opposite Day!"
Kid 1: "Yes there is!"
Kid 2: "Nuh-uh! Because if it WAS Opposite Day then the opposite of it
being that would be that it WASN'T!"
Touché Kid 2... Touché. We've all been trapped in that bizarre conversation, so in honor of the experience, I'll insist:
Don't go to Rimsky's.
Don't think the brick red queen anne style four square house will be easy to spot when the leafy foliage is in full bloom. Don't expect to walk into a cozy old building, and don't even plan on it being busy from the moment it opens at 7pm. You won't get distracted by the art plastered on the walls or the oddities hanging from the parlour ceiling. You'll find that it's too easy to make a choice on what sounds good on the menu of desserts and coffees and chai. Of course you'll bypass the Chocolate Raspberry's Fool.
Don't wander around looking for the strange tables and memorable bathrooms. Don't sit in the neat little window seat halfway up the stairs. Don't expect to get a bill with a sweet little note or drawing on the back. When you leave, you'll never want to come back, let alone sing it's praises to your friends.
Because it's Opposite Day and Rimksy's is lame.
(And if it's not... well then you should have figured that Rimksy's is cool.)
Rimsky-Korsakoffee makes my top 10 list for favorite things in PDX. It's quirky, charming, and cozy. The service can be a bit hit or miss but the staff are witty and smart so it's no big deal. Besides, if you're in a hurry, this really isn't the place to be. Instead, it's the perfect spot for a rainy Saturday night of classical music, rich dessert, and hot tea.
Very, very cool vibe here. Along with the delicious drinks and desserts, the wait stuff was fun/lively. Bring cash. Raspberry chocolate fool = yum.
I've heard about this place as being really great, quirky place to get dessert late at night. I'd describe the decor are creepy-Russian/Victorian kitsch. I love the vibe of old Victorian houses and this place is very well suited for the space it occupies.
Rimsky's has a selection of staple desserts and sundaes as well as a list of dessert specials. I didn't quite catch if the specials are meant to be weekly or monthly, but they also looked just as mouth watering as the regular menu items. Sadly they were out of a few options and even ran out of an item right before my boyfriend ordered! It was a total bummer.
But the main reason I wanted to come here was for Pot de Creme. I'd say I'm mildly a foodie, but mostly for things of the sweet variety! I have ambitions to be a pastry chef, so I like trying new desserts and expanding my sugar-y horizons. I've never had anything like Pot de Creme before and wow, it was super rich, but super good. My Mexicana mocha was dang tasty too.
In my opinion, this is a really nice date place and I'd love to come back on a night when they have live classical music.
For me Rimsky wins because of the crazy decor and the moving tables.
I love taking friends there who have never been and sitting at the table that moves up and down. They don't notice at first but when they do they freak out. (in a good way) The deserts are good. Not amazing and the service is so so. It just depends who you get. But overall its a fun experience.
This is the old standby of Portland. Not as funky as Pied Cow, but a better place to take grown-ups. Still has its share of amusements, like the cool bathrooms (yes, I'm serious). I'm afraid it may have gotten lost in the wayside with the fancy upstarts like Stumptown. Don't get me wrong, Stumptown's great, but it's not a classic hang-out. Come here for dessert and coffee.
Rimskies is one of those classic eccentric coffee houses of Portland that you want to introduce your friends to. It has a slight darkness to it like the ride where the ghosts do some ballroom dancing at Disneyland...and some sweet eccentric touches like the slowly moving coffee table and the nice pianists who are there now and then. The desserts and all are tasty. It's a classic part of a Portland evening...
I wanted so much for this place to be awesome. I heard about it in a WW or Mercury poll naming it "the best coffee in Portland" over Albina Press which was second. This implied that the coffee was good. After doing some reading online i was really interested. Strange & quirky decor/attitude + impossible to find + best coffee in portland = pretty cool, right?
Well, the atmosphere was interesting. The servers were somewhat pleasantly strange. The coffee was some of the worst i've had in Portland. We actually left rolls of change (and full cups) on our table to pay for what we ordered just in case someone asked us "how it was" on the way out. I would have had to tell the truth. Maybe the desserts are good, but the name of the place is not Rimsky-KorsaKakes. It is Rimsky-Korsakoffee.
We actually just made it to Stumptown on 3rd on the way home to have an espresso worth drinking.
The decor was very well done and I had high hopes for this place but it was terrible!
I'm sure it used to be different or maybe I was just there on a bad night but there was AWFUL service. My waitress kept pressuring me to buy things, saying "Oh, obviously you're going to get something else , just let me know" after I had ordered a coffee and a 5 dollar dessert. Then twice again while I was eating if I want to "buy" (her words) anything else. Then "Are you SURE there's nothing else I can get you?" after I had already asked for the bill twice.
The waitstaff were boring and obnoxious "normal" type people. The kind of people you'd think would work in a diner, not what I expected for a place with such character. And the desert was boring! My 1 year old could have thrown ice-cream and syrup in a cup, 5 dollars is WAY overpriced.
I really, really wanted to like this place. And I would have come again for the atmosphere despite the overpriced desert if I hadn't felt so hassled into buying more!
I used to like Rimsky's more. The multiple times I have visited and they have been out of a variety of desserts or the server was super out there (not friendly, quirky, or just talkative weird, but really OUT THERE!), or we had terrible service (being ignored for quite a while even without it being busy) that has decreased my interest in this place.
BUT, the desserts are very good. Some are more creative and better than others, but I haven't had a dessert I didn't like. And the coffee is usually good too. But, like I mentioned before, they are often out of things, and this may or may not be marked on the menu. It's open late, which is a plus though, and if you are craving something like a brownie sundae at midnight on a Friday, this is probably your best bet.
Come with cash, it's all they accept, and they can sort of be buttholes if you forget and try to hand them a debit card.
From the outside, it's nearly impossible to tell that Rimsky-Korsakoffeehouse is one of Portland's greatest late-night spots. Indeed, Rimsky's is one of the Rose City's best-kept secrets. You won't find it easily, there's no sign advertising the place, and if you already know about the cafe, you most likely heard about it from a friend. However, once you enter Rimsky's, there is no way you won't be back. It isn't clear why Rimsky's is unknown, but perhaps its intimacy is a factor. A converted Victorian home, Rimsky's doesn't seem capable of seating more than about 35 people... It can get pretty crowded.
Rimsky's desserts (which are the only thing on the menu) range from typical café fare such as lattes and mochas to finer things such as ice cream brownie sundaes or the White Chocolate Raspberry Fool, which many will find difficult to obtain in the late-night hours, as it sells out quickly. The Fool (one which I'll gladly tolerate) is a cousin to trifles and mousse. Doused in white chocolate and infused with raspberry, this dessert is seriously worth the trip, the money and the wait.
One of the other attractive things about Rimsky's is the atmosphere. It goes without saying, as any Rimsky's regular will tell you, that you must check out the bathroom. The journey there and back is an experience in and of itself. Just be prepared. The interior of the restaurant is rather spooky as well. During one of my last trips, a half-hour after they opened at 7:30 p.m., the sun was still shining bright, but it was a little bit eerie nonetheless. This was probably a result of the fact that there was no one there.. it does seem most people tend to show up long after the sun goes down.
Rimsky's is a wonderful place to go at night, whether with a group of friends, with your sweetie or even just by yourself. A Rimsky's visitor mans the piano almost constantly, but the staff will stress that you have to know what you're doing in order to tickle the ivories. Aside from that, they have acts that come in and play.
There's no signage indicating where the cafe; is, so you'll have to look closely. A word to the wise: Rimsky's doesn't take credit or debit cards, and there's no ATM inside, so if you come unprepared, you'll have to run to the Plaid Pantry next door.
"Home of the casually threatening atmosphere"...according to their blog.
While they are home to a many number of things, including live classical music and delicious, yet dauntingly simple dessert selections, there is one aspect of this unassuming Victorian house that is more than a little casually threating:
The bathroom.
I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say that if a friend has the hiccups and needs a cure, this will certainly be the scare they need.
Went here this past Saturday w my date who had never been to this Portland staple before. We arrived around 9pm and had no trouble finding a table for two. The larger tables were all taken but several small tables were in abundance. The service was exceptionally great, in a matter of 5 minutes we were approached by 3 different servers wanting to take our order. All were pleasant and never did we feel rushed to make up our minds.
We ended up having a brownie sundae, some awesome pumpkin cheesecake crummmble (yes, that's how it was scrawled on the menu) and a delicious latte (yay for stumptown). Paired with live music from a pianist wearing a Happy Birthday t-shirt, this was quintessential Portland dessert heaven. Every time I come here, I leave feeling guilty for ever going to Papa Haydn's for dessert. :(
Had to comment on the hilarious and untrue claims made by January M., who said, below:
"Maybe don't be such dicks next time somebody is 50 cents under your $5.00 minimum, It's not worth a whole four-top walking out, and you're the ones who priced your desserts at $4.50."
Well, first of all, the "minimum order" rule is only used during the busy parts of Friday and Saturday nights for the sole purpose of ensuring that the restaurant can stay afloat. Secondly, the minimum is not $5.00, but $3.50 (says so right on the menu). And thirdly, most every dessert actually costs $5.50, except for a couple choices that cost another dollar more or less.
And lastly, quelque personnes qui travaillent au café parlent français et certains pas. Ainsi les la plupart -- mais pas tous les -- d'entre nous peut prononcer "pot de creme".
Cheers! :)
Ok, I am shocked, and I just have to comment: I am very lucky to have worked at… Read more »
I definitely had high hopes for this place. I had been meaning to check it out for the last four years I've lived in Portland and I finally got around to it the other night.
Maybe it was the anticipation, but I was a little disappointed. If you've been to the Pied Cow, I can say that it's very similar to that and you'd have a pretty good idea of what it is like. You're in an older house with unique, silly decorations and a warm ambiance. The staff is very casual and they're serving desserts and coffee.
They definitely score points for live music (the other night was a classical guitarist, but they also have a piano in there), reasonable prices, and the funny surprise in the bathroom upstairs.
There were a number of things that kept me from loving the place, though. One is the set-up. It's mostly just one big room and the volume was a little too high (especially since there was no music playing). It would do them well to section it off and turn the lights down a bit so that you are not hearing and/or seeing every single person in the place.
Another is that there is no alcohol. Not crucial, but it would be nice to have the option for a nightcap. It may also cut down on or eliminate the presence of children.
Last problem was the check or cash only policy. Come on. This society is clearly going in one direction when it comes to paper payment. Any veritable business that wishes to create and maintain a customer base will swipe a card.
The tea and the dessert was delicious and I would certainly give it another try. I just don't know that I can ever love it like I wanted to. I don't know how I ever could or why I would even try when the Pied Cow is only about 20 blocks away.
I used to come to this place quite often - mostly for Church of Craft (R.I.P.), under the tutelage of Sister Dianne. In fact, that was my introduction to Rimsky-Korsakoffee's - and what an amazing setting for an afternoon of craftiness. Yes, the one time Rimsky's was actually open during the day; the monthly Church of Craft meetings.
Set in a Victorian House with no sign ("Never!" the owner Goody Cable has declared), it can be a little tricky to find - but what a treat. You do feel that you've stepped into a very quirky and creative parlor, replete with a grand piano in the corner and all manner of interesting little artistic things hanging from the ceiling - actually, all manner of interesting artistic things everywhere.
It's a bohemian hotch-potch in every respect, from the mismatched china to the random napkins. And that's why I love this place. The bathroom - yes, a bit of a surprise the first time, but probably the least charming thing about the place, imho - and some of it's a bit whimsical - but overall, a delight.
I haven't had the late night Rimsky's experience, but stopping in there earlier in the evening I've never had any complaints about service or overcrowding - in fact, I've loved the service. I enjoy servers with personality, they're 'real' people who seem to be really invested in the place and I've always found them charming. I quite enjoy a little bit of good-humored sarcastic wit with my dessert.
And so we come to the reason I don't frequent this place more often - the ambience is wonderful, the coffee is excellent - but they only serve desserts... and the desserts they serve are mostly just too rich for me. But that's just me... still, I can't help wishing they'd add something (anything) non-sweet to the menu.
If you're easily overstimulated, you may not enjoy this feast for the eyes & senses - with added caffeine & sugar it might all just be too messy for you. But if you enjoy quirky eclecticism & decadent desserts, you'll love it.
Oh - and as others have said.... cash only - be warned!
If you don't know the 'secret' to this place, I highly recommend going for a potentially entertaining evening. If you know the secret already, then it must be the good desserts and coffee/drinks (non-alcoholic only).
The service is abysmal, as a warning, but this is a place you go to to just relax. I've thought of bringing my own coffee as I've waited up to 20 minutes just to have someone stop by and ask what I wanted. One time I DID wait 30 minutes (after I managed to find a seat and actually had sat down) until I got my coffee. It'd be 15min more until I had my pre-made dessert delivered.
So why the high rating? It's a fun place to be and they have occasional live music. It's a relaxing party-like atmosphere yet generally quiet enough to have conversations with the people next to you. If you're out late and want a dessert, this would be my #1 pick if the service were good.
Like Montage, don't go if you don't like crowds. I do believe I actually had to crawl over someone's lap to take my seat once. But if you're a Portland native (I'm a cheesehead, actually, but Portland is close enough personality-wise), you're likely laid back and will happily laugh along =D
Visit the bathroom.
This is a VERY classic Portland eccentric coffee/dessert place -- it's just as all the reviewers describe it. Rather slow service, kooky decor, but good and interesting things to eat! When I went with a friend, we swore we heard it opened at 7pm, but it looked like it was dark and locked when we got there. We waited for half an hour with 4 other people who assured us that sometimes they just open late. And they were right. It was kinda spooky to be sitting in front of a rather delapidated house wondering whether someone was going to come and serve us warm desserts on that cold night, but it was worth it. A fond memory and a definitely interesting place to visit!
Let's see now...here is a brief timeline of my very last night in Portland. You know 2 days simply isn't enough! :
7:30pm... Indulgent dinner at Mother's Bistro
8:30pm...Walk off dinner from Mother's. Grab doughnuts at Voodoo
8:35pm...Decide to wait on eating purchased V.Doughnuts. Continue to walk and explore city. Digest.
9:00pm...Took a slight detour at Saint Cupcake.
9:20pm... Quikly devoured tasty cupcake. Now not sure what to do. Hubby complains feet hurt due to wearing the wrong shoes. Go back to Hotel Lucia to rest.
9:45pm...Me, a little ancy. It's Saturday night for gawd-sakes, why are we sittin in our hotel room.?! Must find something to do. : O
9:55pm...While hubby rests achy feet, he geeks out on Yelp. Searching for some place to go.
10:15pm...Hubby finds the place. Change clothes...get in rental car, and go
10:30pm...After getting a little lost on the road, we arrive at Rimsky-Korsafoffee House. For guess what? More dessert.
Cool...my honey is catching on to me. He knows what I like!
It's merely coincidence that I actually bookmarked this joint a week before I arrived in Portland. I wasn't exactly sure how far it would be from our hotel, nor if we planned on renting a car. So you can only imagine the gleeful surprise when my hubby ended up bringing me here on his own accord. Wow...we are so married! It's like he read my Yelpy mind! Unreal...
Me: "I know this place honey. I bookmarked it on Yelp."
Hubs: "Really? na-uh!"
Me: "Uh-huh...and I hear it's haunted..." (wink,wink)
Hubs: "Cool"
We walk into this creepy yet charming Victorian house-turned-dessert-coffee-house. The place was boomin'...quite a full house. We immediately seat ourselves and scanned the menu. Luckily our wait for service wasn't too long. We heard that it could be somewhat of a challenge to get help around here. Our waitress was friendly and welcoming, and efficiently speedy as well. They had quite a variety of home-baked desserts from Cream Cheese Flan (oh baby...you know I like that!), Ice Cream Sundaes, Raspberry Meringues, Lemon Bars, and then some. The hubs and I compromised on their Choco Banana Cream Pie and a pot of "Ambiguity" tea. Not sure what that was, but curious to find out.
Pie was on the small side, but still delicious. Maybe our waitress knew about the doughnuts and cupcakes we had earlier and was trying to tell us somethin'. Hmmm? Our dessert definitely looked homemade...like something I made back in high school. Not too pretty, but it tasted good. Our "ambiguity" tea was very lovely...a mixture of lavender, chamomile, and rose-hips. At least that's what I think was in there. So purtty smellin', I could wear it!
RKH is a very cozy place. The only downside is that I wish they could play some nice background music. Hearing the sound of chatter wasn't too entertaining. What was entertaining though was we were sitting at a "trick" table. It started to do this loud grinding sound and moving.
Hubs: "What was that?"
Me: "What was what?"
Hubs: (grinding sound) "That, that sound? Are you hitting the table?"
Me: "No, I'm sittin' still. I think that's the ghost?"
Hubs: "Funny...stop moving the table."
Me: "I'm serious, that's probably the ghost" (hee,hee)
The look on his face was just priceless. Where is Candid Camera when you need them?
Oohhhh! Good times they just keep on comin"...
11:45pm: Drive back to Hotel Lucia, change in jammies, pass out from sugar coma. : )
This place was so cool in so many ways.
The wife and I had sugar hopped this one evening. Went from on pastry to shop to another. When we finally got back to our hotel, we were so amped with sugar that we needed to head back out. Did some Yelping and found this place that's open until 2am. It sounded really intriguing so we hopped on the rent-a-car and drove across the bridge to this place.
It's basically someone's house that they turned into a coffee shop. It's a lot like your grandma's living room setting with the classical style furniture, creaky hard wood floors and old photos and paintings. Let me rephrase that, it's like your high grandma's living room and setting. For whatever reason there's a bunch of O's cutout from Oprah's magazine hanging from the ceiling. I'm stlll baffled to this day and don't know what to make of it.
They had a great selection of teas and desserts. But we went with a classic Banana Cream Pie. Absolutely loved it. Didn't look pretty on the plate, quite a mess in fact, but delicious. And that's what really counts.
One thing I noticed about Portlanders is they like to get out. Old and young. There was a family of four with their 8 and 10 year old daughters (est.) hanging out until 1am. I also saw a senior citizen couple having tea and desserts dressed to the hilt like they were out dancing or something. It was awesome to see.
Anyway, let me finish my review... because there's more. Towards the end of the evening, after our check was dropped the strangest thing started to happen. Our table started to vibrate. Didn't really think much about it, thought my wife kicked it. But it happened again. This time I'm accusing my wife of pushing the table. She flatly denies it. I started to look under, inspect what's going on... nothing. Then it does it again. I'm tripping out at this time. "What the hell is that!" Just as I'm flipping out the waitress comes to the table to pick up the check. I tell her what's going on with a serious concerned look. I was either thinking haunted? or some strange electrical current is coming from the floor. She gives me this strange smile...
I just typed a whole paragraph on what I learned about this place... but soon caught myself. Why would I want to place fear on people? It might have been an isolated incident...
Awesome place, awesome crowd, and an unforgettable experience. Go!
I'm always in love with Rimsky's so when I moved about 1 block away from this place,I'm literally jumping up and down. Since then I've been going to this place at least once a week and trying to convert my friends to Rimsky's believers.
My favorite is Chocolate Raspberry Fool dessert, I tried the White Chocolate Brownie Sundae with Strawberries and it was really good but nothing compared the Chocolate Raspberry Fool. It's totally a love affair.
I love their coffee especially the Orange Mocha and their tea is just sooo good. Chamomile is my favorite. They have live music on the weekend meaning a piano player or a guitar player.
Their restroom interior is pretty weird and awesome at the same time.
Just don't forget your cash or checks because Rimsky's doesn't take credit card or debit card.
Hopefully I won't gain 300 lbs by next year.
The dessert was tasty and the atmosphere is cool. There definitely is some merit to the complaints about slow, unapologetic service...but if you've got some time to kill and aren't too upset by that sort of thing, it's a nice place to dally away the evening.
Dessert and coffee has never been so creepy, eclectic and colorful. An old house has been turned into a mural/coffee house and offers some tasty desserts. My friend recommended that we come here because of the ice cream sundae, but failed to note to my brother and I that there are some "haunted" tables.
So imagine a table of three enjoying some ice cream and all of a sudden their table erupts into loud rapping and vibrations that scare the living crap out of you. It could cause a person to spit their food on the person across from them, but that would never happen to me, because I am calm and reserved....ahem.
Whatever you do, go upstairs to use the bathroom, and experience a visual journey. That does sound a little strange, but you'll get the gist when you go there.
OK after reading the reviews I had to check it out.
As I've said before, I am almost always late to the party. But once I get there, BOO-YAH. Let's get the party started!
I think I could give this place a 5 if they had a bike rack outside. I know, it has nothing to do with the coffee or deserts or super cool Adams Family vibe they have going, but C'mon. It is in P-town. Bike city USA...?
I took the family there last night for a little evening snack. We sat at one of the 'haunted' tables, but I heard it was taking the night off. Bummer. The coffee was great. and I love the way the deserts are presented. Ice Cream stuff in a ceramic Ice Cream cone bowl..nice touch. The bathrooms, well all I will say is even if you don't have to pee, stop by. It's worth it.
Now that I'm in the know, I can't wait to turn on someone else..
Rimsky's is another coffee house in a converted Victorian house, but it's a Portland favorite. Named for the Russian composer Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, it features music on most nights. The desserts are delicious and inventive, and the drinks are desserts in themselves.
This place is awesome for friends, dates, and anything else. It has an all-are-welcome family vibe, perhaps because the same family has been running it since forever. It's also great to hit up this place for some caffeine before heading to Holocene several blocks away.
Several of the tables have secrets, which you'll just have to discover because giving them away here would take away the fun. O.k., I will say this: groups should get the large circular table in the back room, and stay put for awhile...muah ha ha!
I would give it five stars but they kicked me out once for trying to play chess. Coffee? Dessert? Chess? It seemed reasonable and patriotic to me, but they wouldn't have it. Maybe the liabilty would just be too high? Perhaps something even more sinister? Satan?
But, the coffee, desserts, art and overall unkemptness make me love this place in an Edward Scissorhands kind of way.
Maybe if I arrive in my invisble jet I can play chess with Wonder Woman on our invisble board?
Sure, this place has an eclectic feel, with Victorianish decor. Not to mention classical music. My banana split was decent but not worth writing home about. The place was cozy enough, but I didn't feel like this place was the best ever, judging by most of the other reviews here. I'd go back to meet people for coffee, sure, but it's not that amazing of a place.
The bathroom wasn't that great, either.
wouldn't have ever gone in if a friend hadn't suggested it. we probably wouldn't have even known it was a coffee house. inside you will find dim lighting, lots of cozy tables, warm drinks dessert and a wonderfully entertaining waiter.
went on a tuesday after dinner and there were several other groups of people around, definitely not crowded though.
as other reviewers noted there is no rushing you out the door at rimsky, so i'd say skip it if you aren't looking to spend some time there.
but there was a guy playing guitar which topped off the atmosphere perfectly.
i'll definitely be back.
Unbelievably bad service. I didn't even get to try the desserts at this place because the service was so bad I had to leave. I came here with my family (Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother in-law) and we sat at ourselves (as instructed by the sign at the door) at the one table big enough to accommodate our group. As our server was taking our order she was informing us they were out of waffles (ok, those aren't made to order?) -fair enough we can get something else. Then another server came to our table to inform us there was more bad news...we were going to have to move to make room for a group of seven. Is that ok? No its not, because the table she tried to move us to was barely big enough for three people, let alone 5. AND it was dirty! We were also given the impression that we had no choice in the matter and HAD to move. I heard her mumbling to the group of 7 that we were not happy...no kidding! Amazing powers of perception! And yet she didn't care how we felt really and in fact seemed to expect us to leave, which we did! Im sorry we where there first and the other folks had already pushed 2 tables together and seemed to be making the best of their situation. (Also, what happened to waiting your turn?) So we left, and quite frankly I will never be back. I don't care how "quaint" and "quirky" they think they are, its no excuse to treat anyone the way we were treated. Also, Im frankly sick of the apathetic server attitude that seems to have become the norm in Portland. Think your to cool to be nice to people? Then get a different job!
Hidden coffee house is late night must
If some friends hadn't brought me here one late night after dinner out, I would have never known about it. It's in a converted Victorian house with no signage out front to give a hint that you've found the right place. That's just part of the charm on the outside. On the inside, you'll find cool tables that all sport some funky secret to them, but it'd be mean to spoil them here, so I'll let you find out for yourself.
I highly recommend their desserts here. I had this dense, chocolate mousse bowl, and I salivated over every bite. My coffee friends love their creative drinks, and they also offer some tasty tea choices. They have live music on several nights, which just adds to the already funky ambiance. Definitely end your night here with a date, friend or family -- it's great for anyone.
Tip: Tables are hard to come by later at night but hang in there, the wait is worth it.
Had a lovely time here! The dessert and the atmosphere were fantastic. I also thoroughly enjoyed the bathroom. Check it out and you'll know what I mean.
so the deserts are really good. i won't argue with that. and the decor is otherworldly. it's fun the first few times you go but then it just becomes a weird place kids like to hang out at after their prom.
if the service was anything other than nonexistant and they tried to be a little more welcoming and a little less creepy then i'd...well no, i probably wouldn't go back.
this is the place you take people when your brain isn't coming up with anything interesting and then once you're there you wish it would have been working better.
I know, I know... I'm weird but I just didn't dig this place. I thought the dessert tasted stale and not worth repeating. The bathrooms were indeed weird and gave me the creeps.
Not my scene, but perhaps it's yours?
This has been one of my favorite places since I discovered it six years ago. I love to take friends from out of town and sit them at one of the two moving tables and wait until they notice. The desserts are great and the decor is really fun. Try the steamed almond milk, it is better than hot chocolate. I also like the ship goes to pieces against the rocks. Mmmmm
How do I give zero stars????????
I'm going to do my best to try to keep this clean because all I want to do right now is start SWEARING. I CANNOT believe the God awfully horrible service I had here. The waiter and waitress may as well have spit in our faces. Okay here's the scene: my friend and I walk in with our laptops and sit down on a couch. We set our laptops on the table and do not open them. A little time goes by as we try to catch a servers eye and they completely ignore us...there is only one other customer mind you. Our intentions were to order coffee and food and dessert or just coffee and dessert but never the less we were potentially paying customers. So we say "hi, do you think we could grab a menu from you?" The girl says " That couch is reserved for parties of four or more." We say "okay, well if one comes in we will happily move to a smaller table." There is still no menu given as she walks away. The waiter passes by several times and never asks us what we want. After about 12 minutes without another word from them we walk out and head down to 3 friends coffee house (which rocks by the way.) I will never recommend this place to any living soul.
I hate you Rimsky-Korsakoffee waiter and waitress!
I love tea, and this is my new favourite tea place on the southeast. My boyfriend and I got a pot of green tea. And my friend Chantelle and her boyfriend Dillan got some baked goods and hot chocolates and a pot of jasmine tea. They also have a piano in there. If there were lesser people I would've played a song or two. Overall, its a real cute place for after meal hang out. They also have classical music performances.
I tend to group Rimsky's and the Pied Cow together in my mind. They are both dimly lit and eclecticly decorated coffee and dessert localities occupying old houses in southeast Portland that stay open late and have somewhat of a cult following in certain circles in Portland. There are, however, a few things that set Rimsky's apart. It is a collectively-run business; they have live music, I've heard classical piano and flamenco guitar here; they have a couple "crazy tables": one slowly, and almost imperceptibly moves up and down while the other rotates at a snail's pace. Note down the address--Rimsky's is one of those Portland legacy that still doesn't have a sign out.
This was absolutely the worst experience I have had in Portland in a while. All I wanted was a dessert and instead I got a 20 minute wait at a table without a single server taking my order or even acknowledging my existance. Not to mention I had to sit across the room from a gaggle of high schoolers; this is definitely not the place to go for selection, service, and ambiance.
Neighborhood: Ladd's Addition
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Mississippi
Category: Music Venues
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